O SOL E FORTE! Nov. 2
Well we are approaching the hottest time of the year here. And I was transferred to the hottest area of the mission. The longest away from the coast and the farthest from the Mission office. I mean I am serving in a different state! Paraiba! In cidade SOUSA! The city SOUSA. And here in Rio Grande do Norte when you say the word Sousa. People say VISH MARIA! QUE CALOR! With is like my goodness how hot! Because it is REALLY hot. But here the people are more or less mais humble and there are always baptism every week.
My companion.....My companion is Sister Ventura. She is 41 years old and is a little different. But I only have 2 days with there and I am learning how to be REALLY patient! I think it’s cool that she is serving a mission. BUT she is a little crazy.....so we will see how this transfer works out. Ha-ha we will see. The last American companion she had she tried to kill. But I am hoping we are going to be better friends than that: P It has started off pretty good. We are going to cook brownies today; but it has also only been 2 days.
People here are really cool. It’s hot. I have had a lot of great experiences
Love you all! Miss you a ton! And It will be a long time until I see you all again. But maybe someday
Te amo
Sister Thomson
My companion.....My companion is Sister Ventura. She is 41 years old and is a little different. But I only have 2 days with there and I am learning how to be REALLY patient! I think it’s cool that she is serving a mission. BUT she is a little crazy.....so we will see how this transfer works out. Ha-ha we will see. The last American companion she had she tried to kill. But I am hoping we are going to be better friends than that: P It has started off pretty good. We are going to cook brownies today; but it has also only been 2 days.
People here are really cool. It’s hot. I have had a lot of great experiences
Love you all! Miss you a ton! And It will be a long time until I see you all again. But maybe someday
Te amo
Sister Thomson
Week 2 of the longest transfer of my life! November 9th 2015
So I have discovered that this is going to be the longest transfer of my life. WHY? Because my companion is a little bit crazy. Well maybe a lot. But we are learning together. Everything that we do she doesn’t accept my opinion and thinks she knows everything. Well she is 41. But that doesn’t make her my mom. It is really frustrating. But everything will work out in the end. I know this. We have had a lot of funny experiences this week. She always is telling me that I don’t know how to teach or serve my mission and that I don’t know anything. But the funny thing is that I know a lot more than she does. Because I am actually doing stuff. She is just asking the elders. Oh. And she said that nothing I do is inspired and that when I do things I am not following the spirit. But we passed through a great experience this week that strengthened my testimony that I really am listening to the spirit and that it is going to be really hard this transfer because she doesn’t want to listen to me but that I can still do what I am here to do. And that is to help others come unto Christ.
We were walking on the road. And I know that I have a lot of patience. But she always finds a way to stretch my patience. We were walking and earlier this week she told an investigator that is having a really hard time right now that we would eat dinner at his house with his family. And when the time came to go to his house she didn’t want to go because we needed to finish our goals for this week. But I knew that he had prepared dinner and he is struggling. That it would be RUDE to leave him hanging. So I told her that we are going to his house. But I had the lower hand because I don’t know where he lives. Only she knows. And she was arguing with me on the side of the road. And I was losing patience because she was saying all this crap about how I don’t know. Which gets really frustration after a long time, ya know? And I stopped walking and told her that we are not going anywhere before Fransisco. And she was yelling at me on the road that we don’t have time. And she went a little further then turned and I hadn’t moved. And we stood there in silence for a while. And it felt like forever. It was getting a little dark and I remember hearing the thought, just go forward and stand under the light. Then you guys can talk. But I stood there. Didn’t move. And after 5 mins she told me with a really bitter edge something like ´´FINE we will go and we are just going there because you want to and blah blah blah.´´
But this is what happened at this house. There were 10 people waiting for us. Waiting to eat dinner and listen to our lesson. Fransisco told us the story about how he stopped smoking crack and 5 of these 10 people were at church yesterday. And as we were leaving sister Ventura didn’t thank me for making her go there and talk with them. But she was happier and was talking about how she thinks they will be baptized and the whole family will become more united. I am so grateful that I did this. As annoying and childish it was. As simple as telling her we just needed to go to a house. And she didn’t want to. But this is why we are in companions. And this is going to be a hard transfer. Lots of tears good and bad. But I will learn a lot.
And the people here in Sousa are JUST like what grandma b said of Brazilians. They are so open and loving! Before we say the name of the church they already have chairs and food to share with us. It’s amazing! And I have also learned that there is no better work to do than missionary work. This really is the most important thing we can do! At home. In another country. At work. Everywhere. There is no better thing that we can do!
I love you all and am so grateful for your example in my life! I am the missionary that I am today because of you! And I cannot do this without you! Thank you!
With all of my love!
Sister Thomson
We were walking on the road. And I know that I have a lot of patience. But she always finds a way to stretch my patience. We were walking and earlier this week she told an investigator that is having a really hard time right now that we would eat dinner at his house with his family. And when the time came to go to his house she didn’t want to go because we needed to finish our goals for this week. But I knew that he had prepared dinner and he is struggling. That it would be RUDE to leave him hanging. So I told her that we are going to his house. But I had the lower hand because I don’t know where he lives. Only she knows. And she was arguing with me on the side of the road. And I was losing patience because she was saying all this crap about how I don’t know. Which gets really frustration after a long time, ya know? And I stopped walking and told her that we are not going anywhere before Fransisco. And she was yelling at me on the road that we don’t have time. And she went a little further then turned and I hadn’t moved. And we stood there in silence for a while. And it felt like forever. It was getting a little dark and I remember hearing the thought, just go forward and stand under the light. Then you guys can talk. But I stood there. Didn’t move. And after 5 mins she told me with a really bitter edge something like ´´FINE we will go and we are just going there because you want to and blah blah blah.´´
But this is what happened at this house. There were 10 people waiting for us. Waiting to eat dinner and listen to our lesson. Fransisco told us the story about how he stopped smoking crack and 5 of these 10 people were at church yesterday. And as we were leaving sister Ventura didn’t thank me for making her go there and talk with them. But she was happier and was talking about how she thinks they will be baptized and the whole family will become more united. I am so grateful that I did this. As annoying and childish it was. As simple as telling her we just needed to go to a house. And she didn’t want to. But this is why we are in companions. And this is going to be a hard transfer. Lots of tears good and bad. But I will learn a lot.
And the people here in Sousa are JUST like what grandma b said of Brazilians. They are so open and loving! Before we say the name of the church they already have chairs and food to share with us. It’s amazing! And I have also learned that there is no better work to do than missionary work. This really is the most important thing we can do! At home. In another country. At work. Everywhere. There is no better thing that we can do!
I love you all and am so grateful for your example in my life! I am the missionary that I am today because of you! And I cannot do this without you! Thank you!
With all of my love!
Sister Thomson
This week. Nov. 16th
Well this week is gonna be one of those weeks that I cannot exactly explain over email what happened. Becasuse A LOT happened. And one day we will all sit around the campfire and laugh about this week. But until that campfire, just remember that im doing good. still struggling with my ancient companion that......well we can laugh about this some day too...and man I cannot wait for that day.......
But im healthy and working hard.
And I am apassionado for brazilian music. Learning how to rap here...its great!
#iloveelders!
Ate mais! com todo meu amor!
Sister Thomson
But im healthy and working hard.
And I am apassionado for brazilian music. Learning how to rap here...its great!
#iloveelders!
Ate mais! com todo meu amor!
Sister Thomson
Ill apologize ahead of time...November 23
Well this week is going to be a little different. I am going to focus a little on responding to individual emails. Talk with people one to one. Because I have a list of people that I have not responded. But here was my week really fast.
I love my area! I love the people here. I love my district. I love my zone! It is really a blessing to serve in this area. But I also had a realization here. That if you just think about the weather...this is going to be the closest to hell that I will ever be. It’s hot every day. I can be sitting in my house with a fan in front of my face and I will be sweating COM FORÇA! And there is no agua. Not even a little bit. Today was the first day in 2 weeks that I took a shower for real because my house didn’t have water. And the worst part is that there is no ice water to drink...But the million dollar question is WHY DO I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Realistically I should not be loving it as much as I am...but I really love this place. I don’t ever want to leave. And I really know the answer, it is because of the people. It is because I am 100% CRAZY for the people here. And I cannot even think of leaving.
Love you all! Miss you a ton! And see you all really soon!
Com todo meu amor!
Sister Thomson
PS! The best song in Portuguese! Hoje a noite não tem luar! I am also crazy about music in Portuguese! And even weirder I am crazy about rap in Portuguese! #themissionchangesyou
Forgot to add this to my email. But I bought water balloons. And I filled them with water and they are in my purse right now. I am going to throw them at my elders after internet...haha...I already got them once from my apartment. But this time it will be on the road...I will let you know how it goes next week!
#gottahavealittlefun
#itissostinkinghothere
I love my area! I love the people here. I love my district. I love my zone! It is really a blessing to serve in this area. But I also had a realization here. That if you just think about the weather...this is going to be the closest to hell that I will ever be. It’s hot every day. I can be sitting in my house with a fan in front of my face and I will be sweating COM FORÇA! And there is no agua. Not even a little bit. Today was the first day in 2 weeks that I took a shower for real because my house didn’t have water. And the worst part is that there is no ice water to drink...But the million dollar question is WHY DO I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Realistically I should not be loving it as much as I am...but I really love this place. I don’t ever want to leave. And I really know the answer, it is because of the people. It is because I am 100% CRAZY for the people here. And I cannot even think of leaving.
Love you all! Miss you a ton! And see you all really soon!
Com todo meu amor!
Sister Thomson
PS! The best song in Portuguese! Hoje a noite não tem luar! I am also crazy about music in Portuguese! And even weirder I am crazy about rap in Portuguese! #themissionchangesyou
Forgot to add this to my email. But I bought water balloons. And I filled them with water and they are in my purse right now. I am going to throw them at my elders after internet...haha...I already got them once from my apartment. But this time it will be on the road...I will let you know how it goes next week!
#gottahavealittlefun
#itissostinkinghothere
ALMOST DECEMBER! November 30
This week was really quite a great week!
MIRACLE! Our mission broke the record of baptisms in a month. We baptized 247 people. WHAT WHAT?!?!?! Congratulations Missão Brazil Natal!! I am so proud of all of the missionaries working hard here! For real!
OTHER MIRACLE! This week I was working super hard to get a lot of people to go to church. But it was hard because our city has been without water for more than 3 weeks. And we have to buy water from another city. And the water truck came on Sunday. But to complete our goals we needed at least 3 people at church. And we left our house 5:45 to go to the houses of all of our people. Church started at 8:30. We went to EVERYONES house and no one would go with us. So we arrived at church 9:30. And by 10 we had 3 investigators at church. I almost cried. It was super cool!
BUT THE BEST MIRACLE! The other sisters in our area were going to have a baptism at night on Sunday. And they had prepared everything and even made a cake. But then the kids’ family put a load of crap in his head and he didn’t want to be baptized anymore. He called and told them. So we were all really sad because it was HIS FAMILY! So we were eating the cake and when there was seriously 2 PIECES left. Sister Carvalho received a phone call. He said that he would be baptized. And he was. Last night. But it was a little funny that he had to wait until almost all of the cake was gone....lol! PERFECT TIMING! It’s amazing how that happens.
Other than that this week was quite normal. I am starting to feel the stress in my body of a mission. But I only have almost 9 months. My body cannot start hurting right now... I need it for another 9 months.
And here are a couple photos of my last couple weeks. And the baptism of Felepe! Love this kid!!!
Ate mais!
Love ya!
Sister Thomson
MIRACLE! Our mission broke the record of baptisms in a month. We baptized 247 people. WHAT WHAT?!?!?! Congratulations Missão Brazil Natal!! I am so proud of all of the missionaries working hard here! For real!
OTHER MIRACLE! This week I was working super hard to get a lot of people to go to church. But it was hard because our city has been without water for more than 3 weeks. And we have to buy water from another city. And the water truck came on Sunday. But to complete our goals we needed at least 3 people at church. And we left our house 5:45 to go to the houses of all of our people. Church started at 8:30. We went to EVERYONES house and no one would go with us. So we arrived at church 9:30. And by 10 we had 3 investigators at church. I almost cried. It was super cool!
BUT THE BEST MIRACLE! The other sisters in our area were going to have a baptism at night on Sunday. And they had prepared everything and even made a cake. But then the kids’ family put a load of crap in his head and he didn’t want to be baptized anymore. He called and told them. So we were all really sad because it was HIS FAMILY! So we were eating the cake and when there was seriously 2 PIECES left. Sister Carvalho received a phone call. He said that he would be baptized. And he was. Last night. But it was a little funny that he had to wait until almost all of the cake was gone....lol! PERFECT TIMING! It’s amazing how that happens.
Other than that this week was quite normal. I am starting to feel the stress in my body of a mission. But I only have almost 9 months. My body cannot start hurting right now... I need it for another 9 months.
And here are a couple photos of my last couple weeks. And the baptism of Felepe! Love this kid!!!
Ate mais!
Love ya!
Sister Thomson